When are we the best nation as an example produced for mankind?
When we enjoin good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah (swt), then we are the best nation produced for mankind.
The Noble Qur’an was revealed to guide mankind. It requires belief in Allah (swt) for the attainment of goodness:
وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللّهِ{and believe in Allah}: When Allah (swt) speaks, He speaks in past, present and future tenses, why? Because, He (swt) is not subjected to the standards of time, rather time is one of His creatures, so we do not ask about Allah (swt) how and where, there is no how or where. When Allah (swt) said:
كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ{You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind}: Every nation that existed from the time of Adam (pbuh), to the time of our Master Muhammad (saws) who believed in Allah and in the messengers, followed their paths, enjoined good and forbade evil, then it is the best nation.
The springhead of good is to do the deed for the pleasure of Allah (swt) and do not do it for yourself, for any blemish in a deed, that is to do it for your sake spoils it, as it came in the Sacred Hadith (narrated for Allah (swt)):
“I am so self-sufficient that I am in no need of having an associate. Thus, he who does an action for someone else’s sake as well as Mine will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with Me.“